E 
41.T 


F* 


BANCROFT 

LIBRARY 

•> 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


S&KCROFI 

UfiRARV 


JOHN  C.  FREMONT ! 


"IS  HE  HONEST?   IS  HE  CAPABLE?' 

JEFFERSOIV. 


Whenever  an  individual  is  presented  as  a  I      In  the  same  manner,  the  lieutenant  colonel 
candidate    for   any  public   station,  the   first!  Save  orders  and  caused  the  collector  of  cus- 

i  •  i      i      i  ,  i 

questions  which  should  suggest  themselves 

to  the   consideration  of  those  with  whose  in- 


terests  he  is  to  be  entrusted,  are;  u  Is  he  hon- 
est  ?  Is  he  capable  ?  "  But  when  the  station 
to  which  it  is  proposed  to  elevate  the  Individ 
ual  is  as  exalted  as  that  of  President  of  the 


toras  at  San   Pedro  to  receive  in 
custom.house    dueg     a 

—  of  depreciated  paper  signed  by  in 


dividuals  in  no  way  responsible  to  the  gov 
ernment. 

The  object  I  now  have  in  view  is  the  re 
quest  that  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  may 
be  required  to  refund  immediately  the  seven- 


United    States,    these   questions   become   of  |  teen  hundred    dollars  that    the    treasury    of 
pre-eminent  importance;  and  no  man  should    California  has^thus  lost  by  his  illegal  order, 
receive  the  suffrages  of  the  public,  whose  life 
and  history  do  not  warrant  a  full,  unequivo 


cal  and  unquestionable  response  in  the  affir 
mative.  John  C.  Fremont  has  been  nomina 
ted  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  "  Is 
he  honest?  Is  he  capable?"  Colonel  Fre 
mont  has  been  employed  in  the  public  service. 
Let  his  acts  answer  the  questions.  We  quote 
from  official  documents;  documents  existing 
long  before  Colonel  Fremont  occupied  his 
present  position;  so  that  there  can  be  no  pre 
tence  that  they  were  got  up  for  merely  politi 
cal  effect. 


R.  B.  MASON, 
Col.  1st  Dragoons,  Commanding. 


To  Brig.  General  R.  JOKES, 

Adj.  Gen.  U.  S.  Army,  Washington  city. 

TRANSLATION   OF     THE     ORIGINAL    OBLIGATION 

GIVEN  BY  FREMONT  TO  COT,  AND  NOW 

ON  FILE  IN  THE  DEPARTMENT. 

ANGELES,  FEBRUARY  4,  1847. 
I,  the  undersigned,  governor  of  California 
for  the  United  States  of  North  America, 
acknowledge  that  I  have  received  from  Dori 
Antonio  Jose  Cot,  merchant  of  this  city,  two 
thousand  dollars,  in  hard  cash,  which  he  has 
furnished  this  government  for  the  public  ser 
vice,  and  I  bind  myself,  in  the  name  of  the 
United  States  government,  to  return  the  said 
sum  within  the  term  of  two  months  from  this 
late,  paying  for  interest  three  per  cent,  per 


Headquarters  Tenth  Military  Department, 
Monterey,  California,  June  21,  1817. 

A  claim  has  to-day  been  presented  to  me  month,  or  one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars, 
against  the  United  States,  of  so  extraordinary  But  if,  at  the  expiration  of  this  term,  the 
a  nature  that  I  deem  it  proper  to  send  it  to  ;  government  should  see  fit  still  to  make  use  of 
you  for  the  information  of  the  department.  |  these  two  thousand  dollars,  Mr.  Cot  agrees 

You  will  perceive  it  is  for  money  borrowed  { lhat  the  interest  shall  run  ior  four  months 
at  an  enormous  rate  of  interest  by  Lieutenant  |  longer  at  two  per  cent,  per  month,  or  one 
Colonel  Fremont  from  one  Antonio  Jose  Cot,  j  hundred  and  sixty  dollars  for  the  four  months. 
and,  too,  in  the  official  (character)  of  "  gov- 1  And  for  the  fuliilment  of  what  has  been  stip- 
ernor  ;;  of  California,  when  he  knew  that  i  ulated,  I  bind  myself,  as  governor  of  Califor- 
General  Kearney,  his  superior  and  command-  nia. 
ing  officer,  was  here  in  the  country.  For  $2,000.  J.  C.  FREMONT. 


Under  date  of  October  9th,  of  the  same 
year,  Col.  Mason  reports  another  transaction 
to  the  War  Department.  We  quote  the  let 
ter,  with  the  accompanying  paper  necessary 
to  its  explanation. 

Headquarters  Tenth  Military  Department.  ) 


ANGELES.  FEBRUARY  20,  1847. 

I  have  furthermore  received  from  the  said 
Mr.  Cot  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars,  in 
the  terms  expressed  above. 

For  $1,000.  J.C.FREMONT. 

From  the  first  invasion  of  California'  by  the 
American  troops,  a  large  portion  of  the  lead 
ing  citizens  of  California,  welcomed  our!  Monterey,  California,  Oct.  9,  1847. 
troops  with  open  arms,  and  willingly  fur-  SIR: — I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  enclose 
nished  material  aid  in  establishing  the  su-  to  you  the  papers  relating  to  a  certain  con- 
premacy  of  our  flag  in  the  Eldorado  of  the  [tract  entered  into  on  the  3d  day  of  March, 
west.  In  consequence  of  their  sympathy  in  '  1847,  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont,  mount- 
our  success,  any  one  professing  to  be  the  !  ed  riflemen,  with  a  Don  Eulojio  de  Celis,  a 
agent  of  our  government  could  have  obtained  resident  of  Cnidad  de  los  Angeles,  Califor- 
ihe  last  dollar  thai  any  of  those  gentlemen  '  nia.  The  paper  marked  A  is  a  copy  of  this 
possessed;  hence  the  facility  by  which  "our ;  contract  with  Lieutenant  Colonel(  Fremont's 
governor"  was  enabled  to  borrow  this  and  certificate  bearing  date  April  26*,  1847,  that 
other  sums  from  other  individuals.  the  contract  had  been  complied  with  on  the 

The  claim  of  Don  Cot  was  not  allowed  by  ;  part  of  Don  Eulojio  de  Celis,  and  that  he. 
the  treasury  department,  and  it  was  presented  i  Fremont,  had  executed  to  him  in  payment  a 
to  the  army  board,  organized  under  the  sixth  j  note  for  the  sum  of  six  thousand  nine  hundred 
section  of  the  appropriation  act  passed  Aug-  j  and  seventy  five  dollars. 

list,  1852,  who,  on  the  26th  January,  1854,  j  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  left  California 
recommended  the  allowance  in  lull,  with  two  in  the  month  of  June,  1847,  giving  no  notice 
hundred  and  forty  dollars  additional,  for  four  j  to  General  Kearney  or  myself  of  the  exist- 
months  interest  at  2  per  cent,  per  month. —  j  ence  of  such  a  contract,  or  that  he  had 
Congress  having  made  the  necessary  appro-;  pledged  the  faith  of  his  government  tfor  the 
priation,  the  claim  was  allowed  by  the  ac-  redemption  of  it  by  the  payment  of  he  sum 
counting  officers  of  the  treasury  on*  the  31st  of  *6,975.  Nor  had  I  the'  least  idea  of  this 
October,  1854,  and  was  paid  on  a  power  of  |  obligation  until  applied  to  by  Col.  Stevenson 
attorney  from  Cot  to  Corcoran  &  Riggs,  into  !  whether  I  would  recognize  the  contract  and 
whose  hand  the  claim  had  passed.  j  redeem  the  bond  at  maturity.  This  letter 

The  board  was  induced  to  allow  the  claim,  was  accompanied  by  others,  which  show  that 
not  on  account  of  its  legality,  but  from  the  in  fact,  notwithstanding  the  certificate  .  of 
fact  that  Don  Cot  had  loaned  the  money  be- 1  Lieutenant  Col.  Fremont,  Mr.  Celis  never  de- 
lieving  that  it  was  for  the  use  of  the  govern- :  livered  to  the  commissary  of  the  California 
rnent  of  the  United  States,  and  the  board  battalion  one  single  head  of  beef  cattle  un- 
thought  it  unjust  that  he  should  be  the  victim  der  this  contract,  and  that  not  one  of  those 
of  his  own  patriotism,  though  he  must  doubt-  six  hundred  head  of  cattle  was  slaughtered 
less  have  suffered  considerable  loss  in  having  for  the  use  of  that  battalion  :  but,  on  the  con- 
it  discounted.  Colonel  Fremont  was  called  j  trary,  that  they  have  been  delivered  to  a  Mr. 
upon;  but  being  unwilling  or  unable  (or  at  i  Stearns,  of  Los  Angeles,  in  two  parcels; 
least  neglecting  so  to  do)  to  show  how  the  [  one  of  four  hundred  and  eighty-one  on  the 


money  thus  borrowed  by  him  was  applied  to 
the  service  of  the  government,  it  was  charged 
to  him  upon  the  books  of  the  department,  und 
has  remained  wholly  unaccounted  for  by  him 
up  to  this  time.  On  the  30th  of  January, 


first  day  of  JVlay,  and  another  of  one  hun 
dred  and  nineteen  on  the  6th  day  of  July, 
1847,  both  of  which  dates  are  subsequent  to 
the  discharge  of  the  California  battalion  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  C.  Fremont. 


1856,  a  claim  was  allowed  Colonel  Fremont  i  There  is  no  doubt  that  those  cattle  are  the 
by  the  secretary  of  the  treasury,  and  it  was  j  same  six  hundred  contracted  for  by  Lieuten- 
placed  to  his  credit  upon  the  before-mentioned  j  ant  Colonel  Fremont  on  the  3d  March,  1847. 
debit  against  him,  which  being  deducted,  i  Mr.  Celis  stated  it  positively  in  his  letter 
leaves  a  balance  of  81,986  51  of  the  $3.000  I  marked  D;  and  the  receipts  lor  them  bv 


(and  interest)  still  unaccounted  for  and  stand 
ing  against  the  '-gallant"  candidate  for 
president  on  the  books  of  the  department. 
It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  story  cur 
rent  in  California  will  account  for  the  dis 
bursement  of  the  money  borrowed  of  Don 
Cot,  whish  is,  that  it  went  to  pay  for  the  cel 
ebrated  humbug  "  Mariposa  claim.''  of  and 
about  which  so  much  has  been  said'and  writ 
ten  during  the  last  four  months. 


Stearns,  marked  B  and  F,  specially  slate  that 
he  (Stearns)  receipts  for  them  in  the  name 
and  behalf  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont. 

These  deliveries  occurred  at  a  time  when 
a  garrison  was  stationed  at  Los  Angeles 
with  a  commissioned  agent  of  the  commissa 
ry  department  of  the  army,  Lieut.  Davidson, 
to  take  charge  of  subsistence  stores  intended' 
for  public  use ;  yet  the>e  cattle,  furnished  by 
a  formal  contract,  are  delivered  to  a  private 


Angeles,  California,  April  27,  1847. 

No.  3. 
Eight  months  after  dale,  I,  J.  C.  Fremont, 


individual  upon  a  special  agreement  (as  he  ;  my  command.  The  above  sum,  for  which 
Stearns,  says)  to  breed  on  shares  for  the  term  this  obligation  is  given,  shall  be  subject  to 
of  three  years.  I  have  endeavored  to  procure  |  an  interest  of  two  per  cent,  per  month,  after 
from  Mr.  Stearns  a  copy  of  the  agreement  he  !  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  eight  months 
has  made  with  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  j  from  the  18th  of  April,  1847.  until  paid, 
for  taking  care  of  these  cattle,  but  his  letters  I  J.  C.  FREMONT, 

(marked^?  and  10)  positively    assert  that  he  j  Lieut.  Col.  United  States  Army, 

regards  those  cattle  as  the  private  property  of 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont,  but  that  the 
agreement  by  which  he  holds  them  is  a  verb 
al  one,  witnessed  by  a  Mr.  Hensly  and  Lieu 
tenant  Gillespie,  of  the  United  States  navy.  |  governor  of  California,  and  thereby  the  legal 
Thus  stand  the  facts,  and  1  am  applied  to  to  agent  of  the  government  of  the  United  States 
know  whether  payment  will  be  made  upon  i  of  North  America,  in  considera'ion  of  the 
the  paper  marked  2,  which  is  a  certificate  sum  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
that  the  sum  of  ^6,975  is  due  to  Mr.  Cells  being  borrowed  or  advanced  to  me,  for  the 
for  supplies  furnished  the  California  battalion,  i  benefit  of  the  said  government  of  the  United 
which  supplies  are  clearly  and  plainly  the  i  States,  by  Eulojio  de  Celis,  hereby  promise 
lot  of  six  hundred  breeding  cows  now  in  :  and  oblige  myself,  in  my  fiduciary  character 
the  hands  of  a  private  individual,  not  one  of j  as  governor  aofresaid,  and  my  successors  in 
which  has  been  used  for  public  purposes,  office,  to  pay  the  said  Kulojio  de  Celis,  his 
This  note  becomes  due  on  the  18th  of  Decem-  i  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  and  assigns, 
ber,  1S47,  and  bears  an  interest  of  twenty- 1  the  aforesaid  sum  of  two  thousand  five  liun- 
four  per  centum  per  annum  after  that  date.  i  dred  dollars,  without  defalcation.  It  is 
In  connection  with  this  subject,  I  call  |  agreed  and  understood  that  if  the  aforesaid 
your  attention  to  the  paper  marked  3.  wherein  j  sum  of  two  thousand  five  hunched  dollars  is 


Lieutenant  Colonel  Fremont  has  bound  him 
self  and  future  governors  of  California,  to  pay 


not  paid  on  or  before  maturity,  it  is  to  draw 
interest  at  the  rate  of  two  per  cent,  per  month 

the  sum  of  #2,500  at  the  expiration  of  eight  j  from  the  time  it  falls  due.  In  testimony 
months  from  the  date  of  March  3,  1847,^or,  |  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and 
in  default  thereof,  that  the  note  shall  bear  an  \  have  caused  the  seal  of  the  territory  to  be  af- 
interest  of  twenty-four  per  cent,  per  annum  ;  |  fixed,  at  the  city  de  los  Angeles,  the  capital 
this,  too,  when  the  acting  assistant  quarter-  of  California,  this  3d  day  of  March,  in  the 


year  1847. 


J.  C.  FREMONT. 

Governor  of  California. 


No.  7. 

ANGELES,  AUGUST  12,  1847. 
DEAR  SIR  : — In  reply  to  your  official  letter 
of  yesterday,  I  would  observe  that  I  hold  in 


master  at  Monterey  had  been  more  than  a 
month  in  the  country,  with  a  supply  of  money 
applicable  to  the  proper  expenses  of  the  army 
in  California. 

Mr.  Celis  states  that  it  was  partly  to  secure 
this  loan  of  money  that  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Fremont  made  with  him  the  liberal  bargain 
for  cattle,  for  which  the  price  is  about  40  per 

cent,  higher  than  the  market  price  at  the  time,  j  my  possession  six  hundred  head  of  cattle. 
Both  of  these  notes  are  soon  due,  and  Mr.  !  (the  major  part  breeding  cows.)  received 
Celis  is  going  to  make  application  for  pay- j  from  Don  Eulojio  de  Celis,  on  account  of 
merit,  as  he  claims  to  have  fulfilled  hit)  part  Lieutenant  Colonel  John  C.  Fremont.  I 
of  a  contract  for  the  redemption  of  which  the  hold  these  cattle  by  agreement,  and  for  the 
good  faith  of  the  government  of  the  United  term  of  three  years  ;  to  return  the  same 
States  is  pledged  by  an  officer  thereof;  but  number  and  class  at  the  end  of  the  term, 
the  whole  transaction,  as  shown  by  the  ac-  with  one-half  the  increase,  excepting  such  as 
companyiiig  papers,  appears  to  rne  of  such  a  may  be  lost  in  any  way  whatever,  and  not 
character  that  I  shall  not  order  payment  of :  for  wan'  of  care  on  my  part.  1  consider  the 
the  money  to  Mr.  Celis,  but  refer  all  the  pa-  cattle  as  the  private  properly  of  Lieutenant 

action   as   Colonel  J.  C.  Fremont,  not  being  instructed 


pers  to  the    department,  for  such 
they  may  consider  proper  in  the  case. 
1  have  the  honor  to  be,  $-c., 

II.  B.  MASON, 

CVlonel  1st  Drfisfoons,  Commanding. 
To  General  R.  JONES," Washington  city. 

No.  2. 

This  is  to  certify  that  there  is  due  from 
the  United  States  to  Don  Eulojio  de  Celis 
the  sum.  of  six  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
seventy  five  dollars,  on  account  of  supplies 
furnished  by  him  for  subsisting  United  States 
troops  in  service  in  this  territory  and  under 


by  him  to  the  contrary. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be.  £>-c., 

ABEL  STEARNS. 
Col.  J.  D.  STEVKNSON. 
Commanding  Southern  Military  District,  Cal. 

In  1852,  a  Board  of  Commissioners  was 
established  by  Congress  to  receive  and  audit 
claims  against  the  government  of  the  I  niied 
States,  growing  out  of  Col.  Fremont's  military 
operations  in  California.  This  board  held  their 
-fusions  jn  California,  and  claims  amounting 


to  about  one  million  of  dollars  were  present 
ed  for  supplies  represented  to  have  been  pro 
cured  by  Col.  Fremont,  for  the  use  of  the 
troops  under  his  orders.  Had  Col.  Fremont 
been  in  command  of  any  considerable  num 
ber  of  men,  this  sum  would  not  seem  large  ; 
but  it  must  be  remembered  that  his  whole 
force  consisted  only  of  a  small  battalion,  and 
that  this  force  was  in  service  but  five  or  six 
months.  Of  these  claims  amounting  to  a 
million  of  dollars — all  certified  by  Col.  Fre 
mont  on  his  honor  as  tl  correct  and  just," 
and  "  applied  to  the  public  service " — the 
Commissioners  found  about  $140,000  reason 
able  and  just,  and  recommended  their  pay 
ment,  leaving  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars 
disallowed.  We  present  a  few  of  these 
claims  with  the  opinions  of  the  Board. 

The  United  States  Dr. 

To  Mariano  G.  Vallejo. 

For  the  following  property  taken  from  the 
ranches  of  Geueral  Marino  G.  Vallejo,  for  the 
use  of  the  United  States  troops  under  the  com 
mand  of  Captain  John  C.  Fremont  in  the  month 
of  August,  A.  D.  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  forty-six: 

To  eight  hundred  head  of  cows  and 

large  cattle,  at  $15  each  ....  $12,000 
To  six  hundred  head  of  second-class 

cattle,  at  $12  each 7,200 

To  six  hundred  head  of  third-class 

cattle,  at  $8  each 4,800 

*  To  one  hundred  head  of  sheep  at  $5 

each 750 

Total -     ...      24,750 

M.  G.  VALLEJO. 
SONOMA,  30th  August,  1846. 

*Should  be  150,  as  in  old  ac.  and  assignment. 

I  certify,  on  honor,  that  the  foregoing  ac 
count  is  substantially  correct  and  just ;  that 
the  property  enumerated  and  charged  was 
taken  from  General  Vallejo,  for  the  use  of  the 
United  States  troops  under  my  command  serv 
ing  in  California  during  the  year  eighteen 
hundred  and  forty  six  ;  that  this  property  was 
consumed  and  expended  in  said  service,  and 
no  portion  of  it  returned,  to  General  Vallejo  ; 
and  that  he  has  received  no  compension  what 
ever  for  the  same. 

I  do  further  certify  that  the  prices  charged 
are  reasonable,  not  exceeding  the  value  of  the 
property  at  the  time  it  was  furnished  for  the 
use  of  the  United  States  troops  under  my 
command  in  California. 

JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

The  explanatory  remarks  of  this  date  ap 
pended  to  claim  No.  9  I  consider  as  applicable 
to  this  case. 

JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

JULY  11,    1853. 


BOARD  FOR  THE   EXAMINATION  OF  CLAIMS  CON 

TR ACTED   IK    CALIFORNIA   UNDER    LT. 

COL.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

Opinion  on  the  claim  of  Mariano  G.  Vallejo, 
No.  8.     Cattle,  $24,750. 

On  the  additional  testimony  produced,  the 
board  is  of  opinion  that  a  part  of  this  claim, 
amounting  to  fifteen  thousand  five  hundred  and 
seventy -five  dollars,  ($15,575,)  is  just,  and   ac 
cordingly  recommends  so  much  of  it  in  amount 
!  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  Congress;  the 
|  balance,  nine  thousand  one  hundred  and  seven 
ty-five  dollars,  ($9,175)  being  disallowed. 

This  amount  is  arrived  at  by  deducting  one- 
hundred  and  fifty  (150)  head  of  second-class 
cattle  which  were  returned  to  General  Vallejo 
by  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster  J.  L. 
Folsom,  (see  his  letter  to  the  board  of  March 
31,  1853,)  and  adding  fifty  (50)  to  the  number 
of  the  sheep,  (see  the  so-called  claim  numbered 
10  ;)  the  animals  to  be  paid  for  at  the  follow 
ing  rates: 
300  head  of  cows  and  large  cattle  at 

$10 $8,000 

450  head  of  cows,  second  class  cattle 

at  $8 3,600 

600  head  of  cows,  third  class  cattle 

at  $6 3,600 

150  sheep  at  $2  50 375 

15,575 
[vote  unanimous — see  Journal,  page  220.1 

C.  F.  SMITH,  Col.  U.  S.  Army, 

President  of  the  Board. 
January  3,  1854. 

The  United  States  Dr. 

To  Mariano  G.  Vallejo. 

For  the  following  property  taken  from  the 
ranches  and  stores  of  Mariano  G.  Vallejo,  for 
the  use  of  the  United  States  troops  under  the 
command  of  Captain  John  C.  Fremont,  in  the 
month  of  August,  A.  D.  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  forty-six: 

To  500  head  of  first-quality  horses,  at 

one  hundred  dollars  each  .  .  .  $50,000 
To  309  head  of  horses,  at  seventy-five 

dollars  each 23,175 

To  250  head  of  wild  mares,  at  twenty- 
five  dollars  each        6,250 

To  40  saddles,  complete,  at  $50  each  2,000 

To  40  pairs  of  spurs,  at  $5  each    .     .  200 

To  200  blankets,  at  $5  each        .     .  1,000 


Total 


82,625 

M.  G.  VALLEJO. 

SONOMA,  August  30,  1856. 

I  certify,  on  honor,  that  the  foregoing  ac 
count  is  substantially  correct  and  just;  that 
the  animals  and  other  property  enumerated 
were  taken  from  General  Mariano  G.  Vallejo 
for  the  use  of  the  United  States  troops  under 
my  command  serving  in  California  daring  the 
year  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-six  ;  that  this 
property  was  lost  and  expended  in  said  service, 
and  no  portion  of  it  returned  to  General  Val 
lejo  ;  and  that  he  has  received  no  compensa 
tion  whatever  for  the  same.  I  do  further  cer- 


5 


tify  that  the  prices  charged  are  reasonable, 
not  exceeding  the  value  of  the  property  at  the 
time  it  was  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  United 
States  troops  under  my  command  in  California. 
JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

In  explanation  of  this  amount,  it  is  proper 
to  state  that  I  considered  the  stock  owned  by 
General  Vallejo  to  be  of  superior  quality,  and 
that  I  was  directed  by  this  knowledge  in  ad 
mitting  the  higher  prices  set  out  herein.  It 
is  further  proper  to  state  that  in  Sonoma,  and 
generally  throughout  California,  the  stock 
found  upon  farms  was  driven  off,  as  much  in 
the  view  of  preventing  it  from  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  as  for  the  use  of  the  troops, 
io  which  latter  purpose  only  a  comparatively 
small  portion  was  appropriated.  Great  num 
bers  of  the  stock,  so  driven  off  by  us,  were 
scattered  over  the  country,  and  were,  conse 
quently,  lost  and  perished.  And  it  is  in  this 
extended  sense  that  the  words  "consumed  and 
expended"  in  the  service  of  the  United  States 
were  intended  to  be  understood: 

JULY  11, 1853.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

BOARD  TOR  THE  EXAMINATION  OP  CLAIMS   CON 
TRACTED  IN  CALIFORNIA  UNDER  LT. 

COL.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 
[Opinion  in  the  claim  of  M.  G.  Vallejo,  No.  9.] 

Horses,  cattle,  &c.,  $82,625. 
On  the  additional  testimony  produced,  the 
board  is  of  opinion  that  a  part  of  this  claim, 
amounting  to  thirty-two  thousand  six  hundred 
and  twenty-five  dollars,  ($32,625,)  is  just,  and 
accordingly  recommends  so  much  of  it  in 
amount  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  Con 
gress ;  the  balance,  fifty  thousand  dollars,  ($50,- 
000,)  being  disallowed.  This  amount  is  arrived 
at  by  allowing  the  undermentioned  rates,  the 
urice  affixed  for  the  first  quality  horses  appear 
ing  to  be  the  highest  that  was  paid  by  the  quar 
termaster,  or  any  other  official,  for  horses  for 
the  service  of  the  California  battalion,  viz  : 
500  horses,  1st  quality,  at  $40  .  .  ,  $20,000 
309  "  2d  "  at  25  ...  7,725 

250  wild  mares,  at  $10 2,500 

40  saddles,  complete,  at  $30    ...        1,200 

40  pairs  of  spurs  at  $5 

200  blankets,  at  $5 1,000 

$32,625 

[Vote  unanimous— see  journal,  page  226.] 
JANUARY  17,  1854. 

C.  F.  SMITH,  Col.  U.  S.  Army, 

President  of  the  Board. 
Claim  of  M.  G.  Vallejo,  No.  9. 

[Claim  No.  16.] 
United  States 

To  Salvador  Vallejo  Dr. 
For  the  following  property  taken  from  the 
ranches  and  stores  of  Salvador  Vallejo  by 
the  troops  under  the  command  of  Captain 
J.  C.  Fremont,  in  the  months  of  June,  July, 
and  August,  A.  D.  one  thousand  eight  hun 
dred  and  forty-six  : 


To  200  head  of  first  quality  horses,  at 

$130  each $20,000 

To  240  head  of  second  quality  horses, 

at  $100  each 24,000 

To  15  saddles,  at  $100  each    .     •    .     .  1,500 

To    4  rifles,  at  $100  each       .     .     .     •  400 

To    1  rifle,  at  $200 200 

To    2  pair  of  pistols,  at  $100  each     .  200 

To  10  mares,  at  $80  oach      ....  800 


Total — fifty  three  thousand  one  hun 
dred  dollars $53,100 

The  remarks  of  this  date,  appended  to 
Claim  No.  11,  are  applicable  to  the  present 
case,  except  that  it  is  proper  further  to  say 
that  the  arms  specified  herein  were  of  a  su 
perior  quality. 

JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

llth  JULY,  1853. 
Sworn  to  by  claimant,  and  endorsed — Approved  : 
J.  C.  FREMONT. 

BOARD  FOR  THE  EXAMINATION  or  CLAIMS  CON 
TRACTED  IN  CALIFORNIA  UNDER  LT.  COL. 
JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 
Opinion  on  the  claim  of  Salvador  Vallejo. — 

Horses,  arms,  &c.,  $53,100.  No  16. 
On  the  additional  testimony  produced,  the 
board  is  of  opinion  that  a  part  of  this  claim, 
amounting  to  eleven  thousand  seven  hundred 
dollars  ($11,700,)  is  just,  and  accordingly 
recommend  so  much  of  it  in  amount  to  the 
favorable  consideration  of  Congress;  the 
balance,  forty-one  thousand  four  hundred 
dollars  ($41,400)  being  disallowed. 

This  amount  is  arrived  at  by  allowing  the 
undermentioned  rates,  viz: 
200  horses,  first  quality,  at  S30     .     .     $6,000 
240  horses,  second  quality,  at  $20     .       4,800 

15  saddles,  at  $30 450 

4  rifles,  at  $50        200 

1  rifle,  at  $50 50 

2  pair  pistols,  at  $50 100 

10  mares,  at  $10 100 

11.700 

[Vote  unanimous — see  journal,  page  230.] 
C.  F.  SMITH,  Col.  U.  S.  Army, 

President  of  the  Board. 
JANUARY  19,  1854. 

[Claim  No.  246.] 
United  States  Dr. 

To  Carlos  Antonio  Carrilo. 
For  supplies  furnished  United  States  troops 

under  command  of  Col.  John  C.  Fremont. 
1847.    Jan.  5.— To  38  mules,  at  $100 

$3,800 

To  20  mares,  at  $50  .  .  .  1,000 
To  75  horses,  at  $100  .  .  .  7,500 
To  35  cows  (milch,)  at  $30  .  1,050 
To  100  fanegas  corn,  at  $3  .  300 
To  60  "  beans,  at  $4  .  240 
To  4  saddles,  at  $30  ...  120 

14,010 


6 


I  certify  that  the  above  account  is  correct, 
and  that  the  supplies  enumerated  in  the  bill 
\vere  furnished  to  the  troops  under  my  corr- 
mand,  and  applied  accordingly  to  the  use  of 
the  United  States  forces. 

JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

BOARD   FOR   THE   EXAMINATION   OF    CLAIMS 
CONTRACTED  IN  CALIFORNIA  UNDER  LlEUT. 
COL.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 
Opinion    on    the    claim   of   Carlos   Antonio 
Carillo.— No.  246.     Horses,  &c.;  $14,010. 
The  board   deems  a   part  of  this   claim, 
amounting  to   four   thousand    and  thirty-five 
dollars,  ($4,035,)  just,  and   accordingly    re 
commend  so  much  of  it  in  amount  to  the  fa 
vorable    consideration     of    Congress ;     the 
balance,    nine   thousand  nine   hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars,  (9,975.)  being  disallow 
ed.     This  amount  is  arrived  at  by  the  allow 
ing  the  undermentioned  rates,  viz  : 

38  mules,  at  S25  ....  $950 
,20  mares,  at  $10  ....  200 
75  horses,  at  $25  ....  1.875 
35  cows,  at  $10  .  .  ,  .  350 
100  fanegas  corn,  at  $3  .  .  300 
60  "  beans,  at  $4  .  240 
4  saddles,  at  $30  ....  120 

4,035 

[Vote  unanimous — see  journal,  page  305.] 
FEBRUARY  9.  1854. 

C.  F.  SMITH,  Col.  U.  S.  Army, 

President  of  the  Board. 

[Claim  No.  230.] 
The  United  States 

To  William  D.  Phelps,  Dr. 

For  services  of  himself,  crews  and  boats  o 
the  barque  Moscow,  of  Boston,  of  which  he 
was  part  owner  and  in  command,  and   being 
agent  for  all  other  owners,  and   for  the  risk 
and  hazard  incident  to  such  service,  in  trans 
porting  Captain  J.  C.  Fremont  and  a  detach 
ment  of  men  under  his  command  to  a  fort  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  bay  and  entrance  to 
the  port  of  San  Francisco,   in  Upper   Cali 
forma,    in  July,   1846,   and    aiding   him    ir 
capturing  and  dismantling  the  said  fort,  am 
spiking  the  guns  thereof,  consisting  of  thre 
brass    and    seven    iron    cannon,    of    heav 
calibre,  and  a  part  of  which   were  afterwards 
taken  on  board  the  United  States  ship  Ports 
mouth,  by  order  of  Capt.  J.  B.  Montgomery, 
United  States  navy,  $10.000. 

E.  E.         WILLIAM  D.  PHELPS. 

Sworn  to  by  the  claimant. 

I  certify  that  Capt.  Wm.  D.  Phelps  did 
transport  a  party  of  men  under  my  command 
to  the  fort  near  the  Presidio,  at  the  entrance 
of  the  bay  of  San  Francisco,  under  the  cir 
cumstances  narrated  in  the  above  deposition; 
that  he  aided  in  dismantling  the  fort,  and  that 
1  have  always  considered  his  services  on  that 


jccasion  to  have  been  very  valuable  to  the 
United  States.  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 

WASHINGTON  CITY,  Aus1.  5.  1853. 

I  certify  that  in  July,  1846,  Capt.  W.  D. 
Phelps  did  transport  a  party  of  men  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  J.  C.  Fremont  from  San- 
celito  across  the  bay  of  San  Francisco  (seven 
miles)  to  the  fort  at  Yerba  Buena,  command 
ing  the  entrance  to  the  harbor,  for  the  purpose 
of  spiking  the  guns  of  the  fort,  which  was  in 
a  very  dismantled  condition,  and  could  not 
have  been  occupied  without  having  been 
almost  entirely  rebuilt.  There  was  no  enemy 
present,  and  the  sole  object  Capt.  Fremont 
had  in  view  was  to  prevent  the  Californians 
from  using  the  guns  at  any  future  time. 
There  was  no  risk  or  personal  danger  in 
curred,  and  the  service  would  be  well  paid 
for  at  fifty  dollars. 

ARCHI.  W.  GILLESPIE, 
Bvt.  Major  U.  S.  M.  Corps. 

WASHINGTON,  Sept.  19.   1853. 


No 


BOARD    FOR    THE     EXAMINATION     OF     CLAIMS 
CONTRACTED     IN     CALIFORNIA     UNDER    Ll\ 

COL.  JOHN  C.  FRKMONT. 
Opinion  on  the  claim  of  Wm.  D.  Phelps. 

o.  230.]  Services  of  boats'  crew  and  use 
of  boat,  $10,000. 

The  board  deems  a  part  of  this  claim, 
amounting  to  fifty  dollars  ($50)  just,  and  ac 
cordingly  recommend  so  much  of  it  in  amount 
to  the  favorable  consideration  of  Congress; 
the  balance,  nine  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  C$9.950,)  being  disallowed. 

[Vote  unanimous— see  journal,  page  302.] 

C.  F.  SMITH,  Col.  U.  S.  Army, 

President  of  the  Board. 
FEBRUARYS,  1854. 

These  documents  require  no  comment  • 
these  literally  speak  for  themselves,  and  the 
reader  who  has  gone  thus  far,  will  not  be  sur 
prised  at  the  developments  in  the  annexed 
article  from  the  San  Francisco  (California) 
"Globe"  of  the  8th  of  August  last. 

I         FREMONT  AND  HIS  FRIENDS. 

"  The  name  of  Col.  Fremont  has  been  connected  with 
the  hou«e  nf  Palmer,  Cook  &  Co.,  in  the  financial  opera 
tions  of  that  concern.  The  only  connection  between  this 
banking  h  use  and  Col.  Fremont  is  in  the  Mariposa  estate. 
They  are  interested  in  that  property.  Messrs.  Palmer, 
Cook  &  Co  ,  advanced  funds  to  carry  on  the  suit  for  the 
recovery  of  the  Mariposa  estate,  for  a  certain  portion  of  it, 
if  sue.  essfnl.  Palmer,  Cook  &  Co.'s  portion  was  cut  up 
into  several  shares  and  sold  to  different  capitalists  for 
certain  sums  advanced  to  meet  law  expenses,  &c. 
Palmer,  Cook  <t  Co.  became  in  this  way  Col.  Fremont's 
1  bankers,  and  that  is  the  only  interest  he  has  in  that 
house." 

The  above  extract  from  the  money  market, 
article,  of  the  New  York  Herald  of  July  5th, 
deserves  more  than  passing  notice.  Its  evi- 


dent  intention  is  to  shield  Col.  Fremont  from  | 
the  odium  of  his  connection    with    Palmer,  j 
Cook  &  Co.     But  "  truth  is  mighty  and  pub 
lic   justice   certain,"    and    Col     Fremont   is 
about  to  reap  that  retribution,  that  a  discredit 
able  and  dishonorable  association  sooner  or 
later  brings.     He  has  been  the  creature  and  i 
subservient  fool  of  Palmer,   Cook  &  Co.  for  i 
five   years.      After   his   signal   and  ignoble  i 
defeat  in  his  effort  at  re-election  to  the  U.  S.  j 
Senate,  in  the  spring  of  1851,  (in  which  body  j 
he  served  less  than  three  weeks,  abandoning  j 
his    post   of   duty   for    a    whole    session    to  i 
electioneer  for  a  re-election.)  he  became  the  ; 
pliant  instrument  of  Palmer,    Cook    &    Co.  j 
To  enable  them,  through  the  influence  of  T.  ! 
Butler  King  to  o-et  a  beef  contract,   from  the! 
Indian  Commissioners,  he  agreed  to  sell  out  | 
his  capital  in  the  Senatorial  contest,   to  that  j 
gentleman,  who  thereupon  obtained  the  con 
tract  for  him.     Joe  Palmer  was  appointed  by 
King  and  Fremont  to  cany  out  the   political 
trade,  and    was    accordingly    dispatched    to  i 
Southern  California  with  letters  from  Fremont  ! 
to  his  intimate  friends,  urging  them  to  vote  I 
for  King:  but  his  friends  would  not  agree  to  j 
be  sold  thus,  and  King1  was  defeated.     In  the  j 
meantime  Fremont's  beef  contract  was  beinor  j 
executed.     Made  without  the  least  authority  I 
of  law,  subject  to  the  ratification  of  Congress,  i 
no  money  could  be  received  upon   it   until 
that   body    made    the    proper   appropriation,  i 
This  did  nor.  suit  the  necessities  of  Fremont  j 
or  Palmer,  Cook  &  Co..  then,  as  now,  and  as  i 
they  always  have  been,   hard  up  for  money,  j 
It  was  necessary  to  make  a  financial  opera-! 
tion,  as  Fremont  had  bought  the  cattle  on  a 
credit,   and    some    portion   of  the  purchase 
money  must  be  paid. 

To  accomplish  this  object,  they  must  get 
drafts  upon  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  for 
the  amount  of  beef  contracted  for,  from  one  of 
these  Indian  Commissioners.  To  do  this,  one 
of  these  Commissioners  had  to  be  corrupted  ; 
for  having  no  authority  to  draw  such  drafts, 
it  was  a  base  fraud  to  put  such  drafts  in  the 
market  here,  by  a  government  officer,  by 
which  the  unwary  might  be  impend  upon 
and  cheated. — The  man  for  the  deed  was 
found  in  Barbonr,  one  of  the  Commissioners, 
who,  as  it  is  alleged,  by  ih<>  promise  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  drew  drafts  for  upwards  of 
$180.000  upon  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 
Skillful  negotiation  was  next  needed,  and 
Wright,  as  the  most  unscrupulous  of  the 
G'ang.  was  put  forward  to  raise  money  on  the 
drafts,  endorsed  by  Fremont. — Adams  &  Co., 
deceived  by  Wright's  representations  that 
Barbonr  had  authority  to  draw  the  draffs, 
cashed  $30,000  of  them.  This  was  great 
success,  and  put.  the  conspirators  in  funds. 
Barboor  was  paid  his  810,000.  (quit  tin?  State 
and  has  never  returned,)  and  some  part  of 
the  purchase  money  for  the  cattle  paid.  But 
more  money  was  required,  and  negotiation 
was  entered  into  with  the  banking  house  of, 


James  King  of  Wrn.,  that  house  upon  the 
residue  of  the  drafts,  (over  $150,000,)  ad 
vanced  S40,000,  to  draw  3  per  cent,  per 
month  interest. — About  the  same  time  Fie- 
mont  disposed  of  half  of  his  interest  in  the 
Mariposa  grant  to  Palmer,  Cook  &  Co.,  put 
this  $40,000  in  their  hands,  became  ihi-ir 
servile  tool  and  agent,  and  has  been  their 
stipendiary  eversince.  Under  color  of  leases 
from  Fremont  of  quartz  veins  of  the  Mariposa 
tract  of  land,  Wright  and  his  associates  have 
raised  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars  in  the 
Eastern  cities,  and  in  Europe,  by  buying  fine 
!>•«)! d  specimens  of  quartz  in  the  Eastern  mar 
kets,  and  representing  them  as  coming  from 
the  veins  on  the  Mariposa  leads.  English 
capitalists  began  to  suspect  these  frauds,  and 
it  was  necessary  to  have  Fremont  in  England 
to  help  them  out  of  their  difficulties.  The 
most  unheard  of  falsehoods  were  told  by 
Wrght  of  the  richness  of  these  veins,  which, 
for  a  time,  satisfied  those  who  had  invested 
their  money  in  them;  but  at  length  suspicion 
of  fraud  became  so  strong,  that  Fremont, 
Wrinht  and  their  confederates  had  to  escape 
secretly  from  England.  (Fremont  leaving  his 
wife  and  children  behind  him,  to  follow  on 
the  next,  steamer  as  a  blind  to  prevent  pur 
suit  and  arrest,  before  sailing;)  to  avoid  a 
prosecution  for  swindling,  for  which,  if  they 
had  been  caught,  they  would  have  been  con 
victed,  and  sent  to  Botany  Bay.  In  Europe, 
before  their  escape,  and  afterwards  in  the 
United  States,  these  adroit  financiers  rioted 
on  their  ill-gotten  gains.  Fremont  is  said  to 
have  expended  twenty-five  or  thirty  thousand 
dollars  in  Europe,  in  a  few  months. 

The  pickings  of  these  operations  were 
soon  exhausted  in  the  fraudulent  and  unsuc 
cessful  speculations  of  Palmer,  Cook  &  Co., 
and  by  Fremont's  extravagances,  and  in  a 
state  of  utter  destitution  Fremont  presented 
himself  before  Congress  in  1854,  begging  for 
an  appropriation  to  pay  for  his  beef  contracts. 
He  represented  that  James  Kinu'  of  Win.  had 
sued  him  on  the  840.000  advanced  on  these 
drafts,  obtained  judgment,  and  bought  his 
Mariposa  Claim  for  less  than  a  thousand  dol 
lars,  and  unless  Congress  gave  him  relief  the 
time  of  redemption  would  expire  and  it  would 
be  entirely  lost  to  him. 

By  t.h.e  most  dexterous  and  unwearying 
lobbying,  the  bill  passed  Congress,  and  Fre 
mont  '•  turned  up''  again,  a  millionaire.  He 
redeemed  the  Mariposa  claim;  bullied  Cor 
coran  &  Riirirs  of  W:  shington  City,  who  held 
the  claim  of  James  Kini:,  of  Wni..  into  a  re 
duction  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  thousand  dol 
lars  on  the  amount  due;  through  his  partners, 
Palmer.  Cook  &  Co.,  shaved  the  Californians 
from  whom  he  had  purchased  the  cattle,  and 
who  had  so  patiently  waited  for  their  money, 
forcing  them  to  take  half  that  was  due  them, 
or  ^et  nothing,  (for  Palmer  had  skillfully  had 
the  deed  for  the  Mariposa  claim  made  to  him 
self  personally,  and  at  the  same  time  took  a 


8 


confession  of  judgment  from  Fremont  to  hi?1 
house  for  upwards  of  873.000,  to  bear  three 
per  cent  per  month  interest,   until   paid,    so 
nothing  could  be  made  out  of  Fremont,)  and 
his  creditors  had  to  take   whatever  Palmer. 
Cook  &  Co.  offered,  or  get  nothing.     In  this 
way  most  of  the  appropriation  made  by  Con 
gress  was  secured  to   Palmer,  Cook   &   Co., 
which  saved  them  from  bankruptcy  two  years 
ago.     Since  then,   Fremont  has  been   their 
agent   in   the   Eastern    States,    receiving   a 
thousand    dollars   per  month   from    Palmer, 
Cook  &  Co.,  to  enable  him  to  make  a  show 
of  wealth,  and  thus  aid  them  in  their  negotia 
tions.     Fremont,  Palmer  and  Wright,   spent 
the  summer  and  iall  of  1855  in  the  Eastern 
States,  trying  to  raise  money  on  the  Mariposa 
and  Bolton  &  Barren  claims.     But  their  most 
strenuous    exertions  and   expertness    failed 
them,  and  Palmer  came  home  foiled.     Here, 
his  fortunes  and  that  of  his  House,  he  found 
in  a  desperate  condition,  owing  to  the  ex 
posures  of  the   Bulletin.     Orders   were   im 
mediately   issued   by   him   to    Fremont  and 
Wright,  to  turn  Black  Republicans,   and   by 
bribery,  and  every  available  means,  accom 
plish   the   election   of  a    Black   Republican 
Speaker.     The   money   of  Palmer,  Cook  & 
Co.,   elected  Banks,  Speaker.     Now  for  the 
reward.     Banks  so  appointed  the  Committees 
as  to  secure  the  reporting  of  a  Bill  to  confirm 
the  Bolton  &  Barron  claim,  outright,  without 
going  through  the  ordeal  of  the  United  States 
Courts.     They   found   a  convenient   tool  in 
Phil.  Herbert,  to  offer  this  bill,  and  to  lobby 
it  through  the  House,  as  he  would  certainly 
have  done  with  the  aid  of  Wright   and  his 
partners   in   the   claim,   notwithstanding  the 
opposition  of  Gen.  Denver,  but  for  Herberts 
having  killed  the  Irish  waiter.     But  to  return 
to    Wright  and  Fremont.     Their  success  in 
electing  Banks  emboldened  them,  and  they 
struck  for  higher  game,   no  less   than    Fre 
mont's  nomination  by  the  Black  Republicans, 
for  President.     With  such  a  nomination,  the 
confirmation  of  the  Bolton  and  Barron  claim 
by  Congress,  and  the  Mariposa  claim  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  Fremont,  it  was   supposed, 
could  borrow  upon  these  claims  any  amount 
of  money  among  his  fanatical  negro-worship 


ping  associates ;  and  Palmer,  Cook  &  Co. 
would  in  reality  be  the  Rothschilds  of 
America.  The  plan  was  well  laid,  and  now 
for  its  execution.  At  this  juncture,  Selover 
appeared  upon  the  stage,  the  very  man  to 
carry  through  this  villanous  scheme.  Into 
this  he  entered  with  wild  enthusiasm,  having 
oceans  of  gold  floating  before  his  vision,  if 
successful.  But  to  get  the  nomination, 
money  was  first  necessary,  and  money  was 
obtained  and  spent  lavishly,  poured  out  like 
water.  In  this  way  a  large  portion  of  the 
money  of  the  State,  designed  to  pay  interest 
on  the  Bonds,  went.  The  Placer  Herald 
says,  Selover  expended  ^49,000.  How  much 
Wright  expended  is  not  known.  Success  at 
tended  their  efforts.  Fremont  was  nominated 
by  the  liberal  and  scoundrelly  use  of  the 
money  of  the  people  of  California — placed  in 
the  hands  of  Palmer,  Cook  &  Co.,  to  pay  the 
interest  on  our  State  and  other  Bonds. 

Diplomacy  and  negotiation  are  now  re 
quisite  to  the  consummation  of  their  compli 
cated  and  sinister  schemes.  But  ten  days 
remained  from  the  time  of  Fremont's  nomina 
tion,  until  the  interest  had  to  be  paid;  plenty 
of  time,  so  the  conspirators  thought,  in  which 
to  attain  their  ends.  But  like  Biddle's  specu 
lation  in  cotton,  with  the  funds  of  the  U.  S. 
Bank,  they  tripped  up  in  playing  their  last 
card.  Fremont  could  borrow  no  money  on 
the  Mariposa  claim.  Herbert's  difficulty  had 
blocked  the  game  on  the  Bolton  &  Barron 
claim,  and  the  first  of  July  found  Palmer, 
Cook  &  Co.'s  agent  without  a  dollar  of  the 
$102,000  placed  in  the  vaults  of  that  House, 
to  pay  the  interest  on  the  State  and  City 
Bonds.  San  Francisco  and  California  are 
discredited  before  the  world,  and  their  credit 
ors  are  swindled  out  of  their  money;  but 
what  of  that?  Fremont  is  nominated;  if 
elected,  Palmer  will  be  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  Wright  Sub-Treasurer,  Selover 
Collector  of  the  Port,  and  that  will  be  honor 
and  glory  enough  to  the  State,  to  re-instate 
its  former  credit  and  wipe  out  the  stain  upon 
her  escutcheon,  now  so  disgracefully  im 
pressed  thereon,  by  these  political  schemes 
and  financial  transactions. 


What  say  you,  citizens  of  the  United  States,  is  John  C.  Fremont  "  hon 
est  ?  Ts  he  capable  ?  "  Do  his  acts  show  him  to  be  a  proper  person  to 
occupy  the  exalted  station  of  President,  and  direct  the  financial  transactions 
of  the  Republic? 


